YSR’s Electricity Sops
Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) said
that his government will absorb the
additional cost burden of
electricity incurred because of
purchases from federal pools at a
higher cost.<More>

RBI Rate-Based Navigation
While the economy was in full
throttle last year, increasing
concerns on excess liquidity and
inflation saw the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) trying to steer the
economy to sustainable levels
through a process of rate hikes.<More>

Democracy, Politics and
Judiciary

Child Trafficking Lacks Focus
Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), an umbrella
organization of various groups working on the issue of
child rights protested against the Karnataka
government’s lack of focus to stem trafficking in women
and children.<More>

Indian Art in Beijing
For the first time and marking an end to India-China friendship year, India
is showcasing 100 ancient antiquities of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain art dated
from the 3rd Century BC to 18th Century AD in China and one of the largest
show showcasing of heritage outside India.<More>

Environment, Health and Education

Tiger Conservation Gaps
An international panel said that lack of proper
amenities, delays in payment of compensation for human
and cattle losses, illegal fishing, and illegal minor
forest activity are seriously affecting tiger
conservation efforts.<More>

Educational Priorities Need Reevaluation
According to a senior University Grants Commission (UGC)
official, research work in basic sciences is declining
which may cause a decline in required talent pool that
could indirectly affect India’s dominance in Information
Technology (IT).<More>

Terrorism, Defense, Security and Science &
Technology

Indian Land Ships
On January 4, the Navy will induct its third
landing ship INS Shardul, capable of carrying 11
main battle tanks, 10 army vehicles and 500
troops for amphibious operations and traveling
at 15.8 knots to land forces directly on
beaches.<More>

Pak Says N-sites Can Withstand Strike
Marking the 130th birth anniversary of Pakistan
founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, President Pervez
Musharraf asserted that his nation will continue
to invest in defense capabilities and that its
“nuclear and missile power” are protected even
from a “nuclear attack.”<More>

Neighbors

No SLMM in Combat Areas
As the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) withdrew
from combat areas in the North and East, the Sri Lankan
Air Force (SLAF) raid killed 15 civilians (including 4
children), wounded dozens, and destroyed all but 5
houses in Northern coast near Mannar.<More>

Diplomatic Curb in Pak
Pakistan has instituted travel curbs on Indian diplomats
where they need to seek advanced permission from
authorities for travel to Murree (a hill station) and
Rawalpindi (a twin city to Islamabad) but no official
announcement has been made.<More>

World

Indo-Japan Ties Need Boost
Given regional and global developments
arising out of globalization and nuclear
weapons program of North Korea, industry
leaders are asking for a more active
political engagement of Japan which they say
will be more active this century.<More>

Saddam Hanged, West Asia Crisis Intensifies
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein convicted
by a court of questionable credentials following
controversial judicial process was hanged
heightening the growing divide in the Islamic
world that threatens to envelop the region and
indirectly the world.<More>

As the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) withdrew
from combat areas in the North and East, the Sri Lankan
Air Force (SLAF) raid killed 15 civilians (including 4
children), wounded dozens, and destroyed all but 5
houses in Northern coast near Mannar.